Polaroid Corporation

Duncan C Sorli

James J Livingston

Peter P Clark

Norman W Cutler, Jr

Jeffrey James Parker

Theodore J LaBelle

Donald G Josephson

John H Keightley

Joseph J Dow

A close-up camera having a plurality of selectable exposure parameters such as variations in magnification, exposure trim and flash illumination includes a lookup table programmed to define follow focus flash illumination in accordance with the parameters selected. Preferably, the camera includes a plurality of exposure lenses, a pair of strobes, an exposure trim selector and a look-up table programmed to define a quench time for the strobes in accordance with the parameters selected. Filter accessories, configured to extend across the camera face, are also provided to modify both the scene light passing to the exposure lens and the illumination from the flash strobes, and the camera includes both additional look-up table capacity for selecting a proper quench time to account for the filter accessory, and means for interfacing with the accessory to automatically modify camera operation in accordance therewith. To facilitate mounting on and removal from the camera, the filter accessory includes a moveable side operable to open and close the facing sides of the accessory.

Camera optical accessories therefor and method of use

A plurality of fixed focus exposure lenses are mounted in a turret for manual selection of a desired focus. Each exposure lens in the turret is combined with a pair of ranging lenses for movement therewith which direct light beams to converge at the sharpest subject focus distance of the exposure lens.

Close-up lens assembly incorporating a photo-ranging system

A rapid access processing method for processing and delivering successive image frames on a continuous carrier web in a manner so that processing liquid spread over the area of each image frame on the carrier web is confined essentially to the image frame to leave areas of the carrier web uncovered by the image frame free of processing liquid. The carrier web also supports a pod of processing liquid along a leading edge of each image frame as well as a trap along a trailing edge of each image frame. The spent pods and wet traps are transferred from the carrier web, after processing, to an image bearing web from which image media was transferred to the image frames during processing.

Continuous web form instant photographic materials and method for

A method of an apparatus for insuring application of a preselected amount of processing fluid to photographic film material are disclosed. A weight sensing device weighs a container of the fluid and permits pumping of the fluid if there is an adequate amount of fluid contained in the container. A magnetic sensing arrangement also effects reversal of the pumping after a preselected length of material has had fluid applied thereto. At the completion of fluid application, the fluid is evacuated from the nozzle.

Method of and apparatus for controlling the application of processing

There is disclosed an improved and economical identification system wherein photographic apparatus at a plurality of field locations provide positive prints of individuals being identified and wherein the prints and appropriate alphanumeric information are forwarded to a central processing apparatus whereat the prints and information are photographed onto diffusion transfer film and then processed so as to facilitate formation of identification cards.

Method of and system for identifying subjects

A film processing roller assembly wherein the gap spacing between the film processing rollers is initially automatically increased to accommodate the insertion of a positive and negative film sheet in superimposed relationship with respect to each other together with a container of processing fluid disposed therebetween into the bite of the rollers. The gap spacing between the processing rollers is thereafter automatically reduced to a select value which may be manually adjusted prior to the processing operation to an optimum value for accommodating a uniform processing fluid spread characteristic. Edge control plates operate to maintain the film processing fluid within the confines of the film sheet during film processing and supplementary drive rollers operate advance the positive and negative film sheets through the selected gap of the processing rollers during the film processing cycle.

Film processing roller assembly

Apparatus are provided for automatically retrieving a rupturable film processing fluid container from a supply tray and thereafter depositing the retrieved container on one of a pair of converging positive and negative film sheets prior to the processing of the film sheets between a pair of pressure-applying rollers operable to rupture the fluid container and spread the processing fluid between the positive and negative film sheets.

Film processing apparatus including a vacuum pickup head for a film

A cassette for releasably holding a film unit and locating it at an exposure position therein. The cassette includes base and cover sections locatable in a closed position wherein a pressure plate assembly on the cover section is movable toward and away from the base section between a raised film release position and a lowered pressure applying position wherein the film is pressed between opposed bearing surfaces, one of which may be formed by an intensifying screen for x-ray applications, within the cassette to locate the film unit at the exposure position. A simply-constructed, low-cost pressure plate assembly latching system is provided including a pair of latch members having latch tabs thereon which are captured in corresponding detents on the pressure plate assembly to releasably hold the latch members in a cocked unlatching position. In response to movement of the pressure plate assembly to the lowered position, the tabs are released from the detents and the latch members move forwardly automatically to the latching position wherein the tabs engagingly overlie the exterior surface of the pressure plate assembly to hold it in the lowered position.

Film cassette with pressure plate assembly latching system

An improved photographic apparatus for coupling together separate film and print sheet elements of a self-developing film unit and facilitating the presentment of the coupled sheets to the entry of a processing device. The improvements include a displacing device for lifting a flap on a print leader to provide better access, for a coupling tab on the film sheet, to a tab receiving slot on the print leader; a pod cover device for covering a free trailing end of the pod to block the inadvertent insertion of the tab thereunder which would prevent accomplishment of the sheet coupling function; and a print hold back device responsive to movement of a cassette, holding a film sheet, along a portion of the apparatus for moving a hold back finger from a position blocking the path of travel of a print sheet toward the processor to an unblocking position.

Photographic apparatus for coupling together elements of a

A processor for extracting a large format self-developing film unit from a cassette, applying a compressive pressure along the length of the film unit to distribute a fluid processing composition between predetermined layers of the film unit, and providing a substantially light-free environment for the film unit for imbibition. The processor features an imbibition dark chamber formed by first and second dark chamber sections. The first section is in the processor housing and the second section pivots between an extended position where it forms an extension of the first section and a storage position wherein it is located in a recess in the processor housing in overlying relation to the first section.

Growing community of inventors

Chelmsford, MA, United States of America

Duncan C Sorli